Police post sketch of alleged assailant

Updated 11:37 pm, Friday, October 5, 2012

This is the police sketch of the suspect being sought in connection with a burglary and assault in New Fairfield.

This is the police sketch of the suspect being sought in connection with a burglary and assault in New Fairfield.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Police post sketch of alleged assailant

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NEW FAIRFIELD -- State police have released a sketch of the man authorities say assaulted a woman after a failed burglary attempt on Newfane Road late last month.

According to police, the assault occurred on Sept. 25 when the victim, whose name was not released by authorities, entered the home to find a man inside.

Police describe the suspect as a black man, about 30 years old, 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall, with a medium complexion, brown eyes and no facial hair, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, low-rider blue jeans and black sneakers.

Police said the man fled the area after the alleged assault. Investigators were able to recover both physical and forensic evidence from the scene, police said.

Authorities said that detectives believe the man may have been seen "walking around the area" about a week before the incident.

The alleged assault occurred just two days before a shooting in New Fairfield in which local man Jeff Giuliano, shot and killed what he apparently believed was an intruder attempting breaking into his sister's house, only to find it was his 15-year-old son, Tyler Giuliano, who police said was wearing a black ski mask and carrying a knife.

Gene Zingaro, an attorney for Jeff Giuliano, said earlier this week that the alleged Newfane Road assault was "weighing heavily" on his client's mind the evening of the shooting.

Zingaro said the earlier incident, which he described as a sexual assault, prompted Giuliano to call a family meeting that week to make sure his children took precautions. Police, however, have not confirmed that the assault was sexual.

"In my estimation, Jeff Giuliano felt like he had happened upon maybe the same intruder," Zingaro said.

Police have said there is no connection between the shooting and any other incidents.

First Selectman John Hodge said Friday that both the alleged assault and shooting have shocked the normally quiet residential town.

"Crimes like this don't usually happen in New Fairfield," he said, adding that he would encourage anyone who has seen the alleged assailant to contact authorities.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen the man to call the New Fairfield resident state trooper at 203-312-7501 or the state police major crimes division at 203-696-2569.